LotR: Is it just me, or is this WAY over the top?

[Chris Landmark]

First off: I don't know why I'm doing this. I guess it's like rubbernecking at a car wreck; you know you shouldn't, but you still do it.

Someone (going by the handle of Sunar) posted the following NPC character they're using in a LotR chronicle over on the Decipher boards. Note that where Sunar breaks the rules, it's by intent and not ignorance. Enjoy!

Sephiri, elf, Noldor (Eldar)
Race: Eldar, later Noldor
Orders: Noble, warrior, captain, magician, wizard
Active orders: Warrior, Wizard
Bearing: 21 (+7)*
Nimbleness: 19 (+6)
Perception: 18 (+6)
Strength: 24 (+9)*
Vitality: 19 (+6)
Wits: 19 (+6)
Stamina: (+20)
Swiftness: (+22)*
Willpower: (+21)
Wisdom: (+21)
Defense: 16
Health: 27 (5 levels)
Renown: 16
Corruption: 0
Courage: 10
Advancements: 200
---------
Lores/basic stuff
Languages (Quenya, Silvan, Sindar, Black speech, eastern dialects, orcish {north, east}, common) +6
History (men, elves, dwarfs, orcs, hobbits, wizards) +6
Realm (Valinor, Rivendel, Gondor, Mordor, Eastern lands) +6
Magic items +6
Weapons +2
-----------
Skills
Appraise (weapons) +5
Armed combat (blades {longsword, double-handed sword}) +20
Armed combat (polearms {Spear}) +10
Inspire +10
Inquire (converse) +5
Intimidate (Power, magesty) +8
Debate (Parley, Negotiate) +6
Persuade (Charm, oratory) +10
Craft (Sewing) +7
Smithcraft (jewels, weapons) +10
Ranged Combat (bows {longbow}) +12
Unarmed combat (brawling) +12
Ride (Elven steed) +8
Observe (Spot, Hear) +5
Weathersense +6
Healing (Treat wounds, treat illness) +10
Survival (Forests, plains, mountains, sea, wastelands) +8
Siegecraft (unit leadership, defense) +16
Stonecraft (Building, fortification) +10
Seacraft (boating, sailing) +4
-----------
Edges
Ambidextrous +2
Accurate (longbow)
command +5 (Guards of Valinor -special-)
Rank +5 (Elven high-prince)
Two handed fighting
Weapon mastery (blades {longsword, double handed sword})
Quickdraw +3
Ally (Elrond)
Friends (Wandering companies)
Hammerhand
Craftsmaster
Valiant
-----------
Flaws
Stiffnecked
Oath (Wizards oath)
Arrogant
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Skill bonus
*Armed combat
Two handed fighting (+1)
Defensive attack (+1)
+Blade only
Breakthrough (attack and rush past two enemy)
Whirlwind (twosword swipe )
Counter (on succesful block, +1 action)
*Ranged combat
Aim (+2)
Piercing shot (ignore one point of armour)
*Unarmed combat
Punch (+1)
Kick (+1)
Block (+1)
-----------
Ability
Pet companion: Cat Rakker
Swift strike +2
Sanctum (Regnum Xandria )
Sanctum power
Spellcasting +55 (all spells, not sorcery, no need for words, kindle fire and create light at lvl 2)
Heroes Strength
Staff (in Rogkist)
Spellcasting method +2
Wizard's heart
Courtier
Noble Mien
Refuge (Cirith Ilmis )
Masterwork
Preservation
Enchantment
Sealegs
Deference
Vala Virtue (Elbereth)
-----------
Equipment
^Rogkist
The Rogkist is a double-handed greatsword. While wielding it, a character cannot use a shield or a secondary weapon. The blade is too large to be effective when wield with one hand, therefor a -4 penelty on both damage and hitting is effective if one would try to do so.
The blade is made out of a black material, origin unknown. Some say it was forged out of the Iron Crown by Valar, but some scolars claim it to be made out of dragon's blood mixed with mithril and brought from Valinor. An earie black anti-light surrounds the metal and absorbs magic power which are alined with evil. All sorcery against the wielder or blade itself is at +8 weariness TN. When a creature has no weariness roll, the blade absorbs half of the damage.
Being a masterwork greatsword, the Rogkist does 3d6+6 damage. In addition, it will never break nor dull, nor can it be sold. It always makes its way back to the wielderit was lastly given to.
Special additional rules:
Valar craft: The edges of the blade cuts through armour and bone as if 't were mere leaves it touches. All damage absorbation is at -2. The blade is immune to bladeshattering as well.
Divine Rage: While wielding the blade, the bearer must make a willpower test at TN 20 or he gets the battlefury+2 flaw. Upon succes, he gains an armed combat +2 bonus.
Staff: When wielded by a warrior-mage, the Ragnarok acts as a staff (see Wizard ability)
Weigth: 15 lbs
Size: large
^2 longswords weigth 10 lbs (5 each), normal size
do 2d6+5 damage, +1 parry
^Mithril Scale Mail
DA 14 Weight: 15 lbs
^2 Travelling clothes
Black and silver & Brown and green
^Very fine clothes
Black and silver with silver rose clip
^Elven steed, Mithlas
^Rope 50' 12 lbs
^Rations, 2 weeks, 10 lbs
^2 skins of beer 10 lbs
^Torch 2 lbs
^firestones (4) 1 lbs
----------------
Bonus skills
*Killing blow lvl 2
-1 on defense and DA for enemy
*Lion's heart lvl 2
+4 on resisting fear
*Dragon's wing lvl 2
Action rounds +1 and +4 on jump tests
*Guard lvl 2
Protects near-dead allies
*Silver Rose
+2 on all combat related tests
----------------
Background:
An Eldar prince, originally didn't want to go to ME with Feanor but at the beginning of the second age, longed to see his friend Gil-Galad again. Upon arrival, he wanted to stay there forever. Didn't really become known until he helped to defeat the Witch-King. He studied under Saruman back in Valinor and displayed a will par to that of the high kings of old. Created the Elite guard units (Lion, Phoenix and Dragon) to help defend ME against the treat of evil. Lately, he travels around with four friends to help out the defense near the borders of Mordor.
Appearance:
A young elf (seems 260 years old), usually wears the Phoenix Guard uniform, being black shirt and pants with a black mantel. All of which are lined with silver flames. Strapped on his back he wears the Rogkist, a blade of tremendous power. On it's hilt a single silver rose is engraved, which is also his device.
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Voila, that's him, the one and only Sephiri (means Son of Fate) Inspiration largely drawn from the Amber book series, lord of the rings and Final Fantasy (don't ask)

I can't explain exactly why, but the mere existance of this NPC makes me wonder about the sort of game in which he appears, and the Narrator who would need such a character. I mean, he can arm-wrestle Balrogs and is a more powerful wizard than Saruman!

It offends my sense of order and reason, I guess. Please tell me I'm not nuts here.

-Chris Landmark
(Or if I am nuts, at least tell me so politely )

[Ineti]

Something like this makes me wonder why you even need to bother making up the stats. Just give your Übercharacter the following:

Überness

This character can do anything he or she wants, at any time during the game.

I'm glad none of my players are so abusive to want to play a character like that!

[Joe Dizzy]

I think characters like these are a geek's way of saying:
"My thang is 27'' long."

[First of Two]

This is the Hero who shows up and saves the day so that your players don't get slaughtered when they've made a slew of bad decisions and worse dice rolls.

Like back when I played FASATrek and they said "If your players' ship is taking a pounding, you can always have the Enterprise show up and drive the Klingons off."

Either that, or it's total fan-wanking, like you say.

[Phantom]

In my opinion....Fan-wanking.

WTF are 'bonus skills'? The Dragon's wing and crap like that, where did they come from?

[Auxioruben]

Note that this NPC has 200 advancements...

200

Thats re-f'ing-diculous

This kind of char is not unique to LotR RPG...in any rpg, you could give an NPC a crapload of levels/advancements and have something similar

-JJ

[Silverthorne]

couple of points...

12 is the max for stats, not modified by race.
12 is the max for skill ranks.

so.. fix the character...

[Doug Burke]

It's not just you.

This does go to show though that it doesn't matter if you have rules that try to reign in power gaming tendencies, because they'll just ignore the rules as they see fit...

[Don Mappin]

Dare I say it's an "Epic Level" character?

Sorry, just had to get my weekly jab in on the ELH. [barf!]

[Sea Tyger]

Originally posted by Don Mappin
Dare I say it's an "Epic Level" character?

Sorry, just had to get my weekly jab in on the ELH. [barf!]

My thoughts exactly. That's why I use my own "epic" rules, instead of that bloody book.

And this character is a prime example of why the GM needs to keep some level of control over character creation.

[Chris Landmark]

Originally posted by Silverthorne
couple of points...

12 is the max for stats, not modified by race.
12 is the max for skill ranks.

so.. fix the character...

Ahh, but Silverthorne, when I pointed this out to the creator of said character, heorshe replied that heorshe was perfectly aware of this, but decided that since the Balrog got to violate the limits, a really old Elf should be able too as well, so heorshe just ignored them.

And everyone else note, this isn't a player character, it's the Narrator's pet NPC.

It just gives me horrible visions of a GM playing a solo game with hizerher self ("I kill Gandalf! How much xp is he worth?") with the players' characters sitting around watching. *shudder*

-Chris Landmark

[Robbert Raets]

Originally posted by First of Two
... or it's total fan-wanking...

deh-what?!

Never mind, I don't think I want to know....

[Phantom]

Originally posted by Chris Landmark
Ahh, but Silverthorne, when I pointed this out to the creator of said character, heorshe replied that heorshe was perfectly aware of this, but decided that since the Balrog got to violate the limits, a really old Elf should be able too as well, so heorshe just ignored them.

Gee, could it be the Balrog is an Elder Demon from the First Age and that is why he/they are so powerful?

[Sea Tyger]

Originally posted by Chris Landmark

And everyone else note, this isn't a player character, it's the Narrator's pet NPC.

It's the Narrator's character???

That's it! I'm reporting this moron to the guild leadership!

[Almos]

Originally posted by Phantom
Gee, could it be the Balrog is an Elder Demon from the First Age and that is why he/they are so powerful?

Well what do you think about this character then?
In what age was he born do you think?
I'm betting he's older than any balrog...